Photograph:
Miranda Super Diamond 19-4279 (c/n 1) during testing at The Oaks, NSW in 2006 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Australia
Description:
Single-seat sport monoplane
Power Plant:
One 37 kw (50 hp) Rotax 503 UL-2V two-stroke fan-cooled engine with electronic injection
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 6.5 m (21 ft 3 in)
- Length: 5.35 m (17 ft 6 in)
- Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
- Tail span: 2.3 m (7 ft 5 in)
- Wing area: 7.52 m² (81 sq ft)
- Max speed: 200 km/h (124 mph)
- Cruising speed: 167 km/h (104 mph)
- Stalling speed: 69 km/h (43 mph)
- Max rough air speed: 139 km/h (86 mph)
- Rate of climb at sea level: 366 m/min (1,200 ft/min)
- Take-off run: 60 m (197 ft)
- Landing roll: 75 m (246 ft)
- Service ceiling: 3,048 m (10,000 ft)
- Empty weight: 185 kg (408 lb)
- Loaded weight: 450 kg (992 lb)
History:
The Super Diamond was a single-seat light sporting aircraft produced in kit form by Miranda Investments of Riverwood, NSW, later becoming Morgan Aero Works of Taree, NSW, this company also producing the Joey 2, the Cheetah, and the Cougar, all being available in kit form to the amateur constructor. Construction was of welded steel tube fuselage being the main support to hold the undercarriage, pilot and wings, the remainder being aluminium tube pop riveted. The wingspar was of structural angle, top and bottom, and was solid riveted. Ribs were of fibreglass and the cowling is fibreglass, the wing and fuselage being fabric covered. Fibreglass cowl, spats and wheel brakes were supplied with the kit.
The Super Diamond was aimed at the entry level for a very low-cost quick-build kit and may be built with a tricycle undercarriage or tail wheel configuration. The control surfaces may be balanced, and extra fuel tanks can be installed in the fuselage and wings. The wings can be quickly removed for hangarage or movement by trailer. Engines in the 30 kw to 45 kw (40 hp to 60 hp) range may be installed.
Construction of the prototype type began in 2004 and one of the first aircraft completed was 19-4273, followed by 19-4279. Development of the kit aircraft continued, and it became available as a tailwheel or tricycle undercarriage aircraft, by late 2007 being available in Mk I, Mk II and Mk III variants, the latter becoming known as the Twister Mk III and offered with the Jabiru 2200, Rotax 912, Rotax 582 and HKS engines, the first two of 60 kw (80 hp) and the latter two of 48 kw (65 hp). One became 19-4860 and was fitted with a Jabiru 2200 engine.
The Mk II was developed to meet a requirement for the aircraft to have a more reliable, more powerful four-stroke engine and to meet this requirement the VNE was increased to 259 km/h (161 mph) when fitted with the Jabiru 2200 or Rotax 912 engine. The Mk III, or Twister, was designed for builders requiring an aircraft capable of aerobatics. But as aerobatics are not permitted under RAAus registration, the aircraft had to be registered under VH Experimental Rules.